Keurig K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother

So overall I’m very happy with this Keurig. My previous Keurig had lasted me for 10 years! And I only replaced it because I’d gotten this one and don’t need two of them. This one is a bit more compact while still holding a decent amount of water (a little less than my previous but still enough for a number of cups)
It is quick at heating and dispensing of course, as all that I’ve used have been and works with my oldest plastic reusable filter as well as a couple of metal ones I’ve just gotten. No issues as well.
The fact that it comes with a milk frother is wonderful as well. This works very well and gently heats the milk as it froths (if you choose hot frothing) and also offers normal, unheated frothing. This doesn’t take long at all and turns out very well with our whole milk at least. It recommends whole or then skim otherwise for best frothing.
Frother makes just enough for a decent “espresso”. (I put that in quotes because although the coffee maker can heat extra and force out just a shot of coffee at a stronger strength in shot mode to mix with the frothed milk to make an espresso basically, it doesn’t have the pressure that an actual espresso machine does for a true espresso. Still passable and I love it)
Now, back to the Keurig itself and the issues that I DO find with it. Firstly, it doesn’t have a power button. My previous did, so when finished I could just turn it off. This one needs to be unplugged to turn off. Not horrible for me and I’m sure it’s more safe, but for those that might have their plug behind other appliances or more difficult to reach this may be an issue. Also the power cord for the frother is shorter (and heavier gauge with actual ground prong) than the keurig so keep in mind when figuring where to place them.
Second issue is that it seems no matter if I leave my cup in place for a short while or remove it immediately, shortly after I remove my cup the machine drains out just a bit more coffee, so I end up with just a little on the drain pad. Annoying.
Last issue I have, is that the stream comes out a bit close to the machine itself. I have one coffee mug that has a slight bulge around and that keeps it ALMOST out of range of the stream, and I have to have it turned one specific way to fill properly without worry of missing. So if you have any rounded cups like this that have either a wide lip, or that smaller opening then keep this in mind as well.
Other than those issues, I love this machine. Again, takes much less space than my older one and works great.
Oh, and also the measurements seem accurate enough as well. My older one didnt’ always put out the measured amount of coffee as it indicated. (may have been 10 year old stubborness) 😉

I’ve been using Keurig practically since they started becoming popular (we’re talking 15+ years) and I’ve had quite a few over the years. They generally last a good amount of time and are super reliable when it comes to making a good cup of coffee. I definitely think this is my favorite version yet for several reasons.

I love how compact and sleek-looking it is. My previous Keurigs have been a bit bulky and take up a lot of space and don’t look great. This one is skinny and sleek and looks more professional than most machines I’ve seen. The milk frother isn’t attached, so you can store it away if you’re not using it every day. It does require a different outlet for use.

The options for the machine are basic, but are everything you need, including different cup sizes and the option to make an iced coffee, which is a fabulous upgrade from my previous machine. It also has the option to make a concentrated shot, which is also unique from other machines. The frother works really well, though I do find I need to run it a couple times to really froth up my oat milk. I love that I can make quick and easy lattes with this machine!

It doesn’t have an on/off button and instead turns on when you open the top to put a pod in and turns off 5 minutes after use. It seems to heat up really quickly and from the time I put a pod in until I have a brewed cup of coffee is very short.

My old reusable pods work well with the machine and I’ve used all kinds of pods and they all work great and brew a good cup of coffee with no spraying.

I’m really, really happy with this machine for both its appearance and its performance!

This Keurig K-Cafe Barista Bar single serve coffee maker and frother is ideal for those who primarily brew coffee using k-cups. It’s quite versatile, with a hot and cold brew feature, single 2oz. shot brewing, and selectable brew sizes of 8oz., 10oz., and 12oz. It can also accommodate coffee mugs of various sizes, up to 7” tall.

The water reservoir has a fairly large 42oz. capacity. There are indicator lights for when the water reservoir needs to be refilled, and for when it’s time to descale the unit. Oddly, there’s no power button to turn the unit on or off, but the auto off feature turns the unit off in around 5 minutes. It’s fairly tall, with a narrow footprint, so it doesn’t take up too much countertop space. It’s around 12.6” in height, 17.1” when the top is open. The black color looks very nice, the coffee maker has a streamlined and modern appearance.

A separate milk frother is also included. It’s capable of frothing both hot and cold milk, which is nice. The frother must be hand cleaned after use, it’s not dishwasher safe, cleaning isn’t too bad, the whisk is the most challenging part to clean. I don’t use the frother daily, but it’s really nice to have when I want to brew something special.

The overall quality is very good, on par with what one would expect from Keurig. The top handle feels smooth and sturdy. There’s very little after leaking, unlike my old coffee maker, which leaked quite a bit. The only thing that could be improved, is the way that the water reservoir attaches to the body. It seats reasonably well at the bottom, but the top of the reservoir doesn’t attach to the top of the body as securely as I would like. It’s easy to take off for refilling, but it doesn’t securely attach to the top of the body, leaving a small gap, but it’s a relatively minor issue.

This coffee maker does pretty much everything that I need it to do, and a bit more. It doesn’t grind fresh beans, so if you prefer to grind and brew fresh beans, this probably isn’t the best option. There is an optional accessory available for brewing ground coffee, but it’s sold separately, the Keurig k-cup universal coffee filter. But if you primarily brew with k-cups, as I do, this is an excellent option, certainly worth considering.

I’m very pleased with this Keurig coffee maker. I really like that it’s cold brew friendly, and that it has the single shot feature, I use the shot feature more often than I expected to. At just under $140, it may seem to be a tad bit overpriced, particularly to those who don’t usually brew with k-cups. I consider this versatile Keurig coffee maker to be a reasonably good value. I highly recommend it to those who primarily brew with k-cups.

 My last single serve machine was giving me some problems so I thought it was time to get something new, and wow was I impressed with this unit. My last machine was basically a generic one with no features, so this was definitely a step up in every way. So out of the box you get the unit itself, a separate milk frother, and a quick start guide to help you out with all the features.

I like the rounded looks and narrow footprint this machine provides, it fit perfectly on my coffee bar with everything else. The first thing I noticed that there is no power switch, the handle to the pod compartment turns the machine on when you’re ready to use it, lifting it up will get the selector buttons blinking.

You can choose three different sizes 8, 10, and 12 ounces, there is also a button if you are making an iced coffee. There are two indicator lights at the bottom, one is if the unit is low on water, and the other is a descale light to let you know that the machine needs cleaning.

Making coffee is super easy, just lift up the handle, pop in a pod, close it and select the size you want. My last unit was really slow, it would take 4 minutes to brew a 14 ounce coffee, this one takes 90 seconds to brew a twelve ounce cup, so much faster. Every pod I put in this machine worked and fit perfectly whether it was a plastic one or one of the newer environmentally friendly ones.

I was not overly impressed with the shots that this unit produced, but I won’t be using it for that since I have an espresso machine so it’s not a big deal. Overall I’m really impressed with the speed, ease of use, and quality of the coffee produced by this machine and would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good single serve.

 Easy to operate and clean
Intuitive settings
Good modern looking machine
Not an espresso machine – shot option will not make even close to an espresso coffee
The froter has a very short and rigid cord also base is not heavy and wide enough to prevent the frother to accidentally tilt and get scalded with the hot milk
Overall: Great and modern looking machine but definitely will not replace my espresso machine. Will be great as a backup.

Conclusion:

I recommend the Keurig K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother for people who are looking for a convenient and easy-to-use way to make coffee at home. However, if you are looking for an espresso machine, this is not the right product for you.

This is NOT my first Keurig. This is the first time my Keurig showed up without the water filter holder. The instructions that came with the machine says it is sold separately! WHY? I am not talking about the filter, I am talking about the piece of the machine you snap the filter into. Also, I went back and looked. No where on the page to buy the machine does it say you need to buy the water filter starter pack separately. Even the often bought together section doesn’t suggest it. This is probably something that should be mentioned in big bold letters! It would have been so easy for me to add the starter kit to my order. Instead I am standing here needing a cup of coffee and I have to wait yet another day for one of the most important parts of the machine to show up. I have purchased over a dozen Keurig machines over the years this is the first time the filter holder was NOT included. Still trying to decide if I am pissed enough to just send it all back…

Reservoir is 42 ounces.

It is 12.7 inches tall, a little over 5 inches wide and just under 13 inches long.

Iced coffee is just one size that runs 6 ounces. You cannot pick other sizes. The coffee is hot when it starts brewing but it gets a little cooler as it brews so it does not melt all your ice.

Hot coffee can be 8, 10, 12 ounces. Or you can do a sort of shot where it just does 2 ounces. That is handy if you want to make a drink with just a bit of coffee top.

One needle at top, one at bottom. Brews quick. 10 ounce took about one minute and fifteen seconds.

It has a descale mode, manual says that is activated after 500 brews.

If you take out the drip tray a cup about 7.25 inches tall will fit.
Milk frother CANNOT be submerged, you need to just rinse it out which is a bit of a pain as you need to remove the whisk inside to get it clean. It would be MUCH nicer if the cup inside was removable for washing, ideally in the dishwasher. Minimum is 4 ounces maximum is 6 ounces of milk to froth. You can choose between hot (at my altitude it got to 148F) and cold frothing by pressing one or two times on the button. The warm frothing does seem to do better at frothing than the cold. When done the light goes out.

Turns itself off after 5 min of not brewing.

I REALLY like that it has a high altitude mode. We live at 7500ft and this does a MUCH better job of brewing in high altitude than my other coffee maker that does not have that option. To get that to work you both need to push on the pod yourself AND you need to press the BREW OVER ICE and the 10oz button for 3 seconds. The 12 ounce button will then light up. If you want it off, repeat those steps.

Keurig Review

A dear friend of mine helped me unpack this machine, set it up, and run it the 1st time. This man is a native New Yorker who spent much of his adult life in New Orleans… With hands trembling, eyes glowing, nose twitching, and mouth watering, he brewed the 1st cup in this little machine, frothed the milk, and took a good hearty sip. With a sigh, he sat back and pronounced it “quite a decent brew.” I sampled it…and had to agree. Dark roast, concentrated, and with just a very slightly bitter edge.

This machine was quick and easy to set up. (I’ve photographed the included instructions.) The frothing pitcher has a slightly “out of round” shape to facilitate pouring, so don’t think that the pitcher is bent. The shape is deliberate. I did not like the fact that the pitcher must be plugged in separately from the main machine. That seems inefficient and a bit “clumsy” to me. This might not bother anyone else, since it doesn’t impact actual function, but is a matter of design. I have not yet brewed iced coffee, but the machine is easily capable of that. (You get a run of “cool” water following the hot brewing to keep the hot coffee from melting the ice.)

Oh…and BTW… there is no actual “on/off button,” but the water tank must be firmly seated and clicked into place and the lid lowered with a pod and cup in place in order to turn on and operate. These are safety features to keep you from scalding yourself. I think this is a nice machine, and I am giving it a recommendation.

I come from a long line of coffee lovers, and so it’s no surprise that my teenage child has followed in my footsteps. Most mornings start with the two of us drinking coffee together, easing into the day. We both love an indulgent coffee shop mocha latte, but we don’t do it very often because let’s face it, it’s not cheap. This little machine makes it easy to make next-level coffee drinks at home, so we are both really excited about it!

It comes with two separate units: The coffee maker, which uses pods or a (not included) basket insert that lets you use your own ground coffee; and a milk frother that has its own separate base. Both are handsome looking appliances that coordinate in color and style.

The coffee maker is large enough to accommodate a tall cup, which is my kid’s preference, but works fine with my favorite regular coffee cup as well. It has a large water reservoir, so both of us can have a couple of cups without having to refill it with water. It can also make iced coffee, and it does this by delivering intensely hot water first followed by cool water, so you don’t have a lot of ice melt in your cup right away.

But where this set of tools really shines is its ability to let you replicate any coffee-shop drink you like. The frother can whip up cold or hot milk, using anything from skim milk to cream. And the coffee maker lets you select “shot,” so you can get a super intense espresso shot (or two) that’s the perfect starting point for whatever drink suits your fancy. Add in some frothed milk and chocolate or caramel or sugar or whatever you prefer, and you have barista coffee without the barista price. We love it!!

By no means am I a coffee snob. I am a coffee addict however. The wife and I work from home, and typically hit a standard Keurig k-cup machine during the day. She has a French press she uses if I’m not here as well. We grind and percolate coffee with beans from Costa Rica on the weekends. We also have a large capacity grind-and-brew we use when we have company or the kids are here.

All that said, I typically refuse to pay Barschmucks prices when on the road. $4-$5 per cup just irritates the BeJesus out of me. But on vacation, I will splurge and buy a cappucino or a latte. Lo and behold! I can now do that at home…

This unit makes a shockingly good cappucino! The settings are easy to use and adjust accordingly. Don’t listen to the whining about cleaning the milk frother: get a bottle brush and a dab of soap. Takes all of 30 seconds, maybe. I need to learn how to make the cute designs with the foam now, I guess?

REALLY impressed with the unit and it’s associated ease of use…